College News

Volunteering in Nepal

A group of 18 students and two members of staff from QE have just returned from Nepal where they spent time helping deprived communities.Nepal is the poorest country in South Asia and ranks as the twelfth poorest country in the world with half the population living below the poverty line and about one third living without clear water. Half the children are malnourished and underweight as most Nepalese live on $1 a day or less.

Teacher, Nancy Wall, led the expedition and explains:

‘‘The  group  spent 12 days in Nepal, the first four days  on the Helambu trek, an exhausting but exhilarating experience which allowed the students to see the superb views of the surrounding mountains and villages.  The students trekked through the clouds where camping was a challenge, with one night being more memorable than the others as many were sharing their tents with leeches!

The project phase was based within the local community, working with children in a charity school close to Kathmandu where the students helped to plaster two classrooms as well as boundary walls.  The walls were then decorated with educational displays to help the children develop their English skills. The students also gave English lessons and organised sports activities using sports equipment and teaching materials they had brought with them. The final day included a visit to the major temples in Kathmandu including the money temple, so called due to the high number of monkeys that live there.

The visit was truly an eye opener and gave an insight into a very different way of life.  Our students were a credit to themselves and the College and in some small way they have enhanced the lives of at least 120 school children in Nepal who now have a classroom to be taught in.  The students also have a greater appreciation of their lives at home and hopefully this visit will have encouraged them to do other volunteering activities.”